Abrading mechanism



(No Model.) 3 ShetsSheet 1.

I W. A. MoG-OOL. ABRADING MECHANISM.

Patented Apf. 12

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

W; A. MOOOL. ABRADING MECHANISM.

Patented A r. 12, 1898.

(No Model. 3 vSh.eetsSheet 3.

W. A. MoOOOL. ABRADING MECHANISM.

No. 602,349. Patented Apr. 12, 1898.

' NITED STATES PATENT Trice.

WILLIAM A. McOOOL, or BEAVER FALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

ABRADING MECHANISM.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 602,349, dated April 12, 1898.

Application filed May 18, 1897. Serial No. 636,413. (No model.) Patented in England November 14, 1896, No. 25,686; in France September 14, 1897, No. 270,462, and in Belgium September 24, 1897, No. 130,827.

To all whom it may concern.-

Beitknown that I, WILLIAM A. McCooL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Beaver Falls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Abrading Mechanism, (for all or parts of which there have been issued to me Letters Patent in the Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, No. 25,686, dated November 14., 1896; in France, No. 270,462, dated September 14., 1897, and in the Kingdom of Belgium, No. 130,827, dated September Zel, 1897;) and I do declare the follow- .ing to be a full, clear, a nd exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereomwhich form a part of this specification.

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a cleaning mechanism embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse section. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view through the cleaning-cylinder on an enlarged scale. Fig. 4. illustrates in side elevation and section one form of nozzle. Fig. 5 is a detail View of one of the movable casings. Fig. 6 is a detail view of the elevated supply-receptacle. Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a longitudinal and transverse section through the cleaning-barrel, showing spacing devices between the shafts and tubes therein.

In the drawings the apparatus is represented as being supported upon a platform, floor, or the like at A.

B indicates a cylinder, preferably formed with heads I) b and with a peripheral wall 19 of sheet metal or other suitable material. This cylinder is shown as being supported at its ends upon rollers O, and, if desired, intermediate rollers may be provided, the cylinder being provided at suitable points intermediate of its length with rings b for the purpose of strengthening the walls 19 and the intermediate rollers referred to can be supported in line with said strengthening-bands, as-indicated atO. The heads Z) I) are provided at their centers with an aperture 0r passage, for a purpose to be described.

Mechanism is provided for rotating the cylinder B. In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated such rotation is accomplished by the application of power to one or more of the said supporting-rollers O, which by frictional engagement with the cylinder cause it to revolve. In Fig. 1 one of therollers O is shown as mounted at one end of the short shaft, to the other end of which is connected a pulley C, which is connected by a belt 0 with another pulley mounted on a power-shaft C 7 D D indicate tracks or ways supported on the platform or floor A and extending longitudinally thereof from the ends of the cylinder B. Upon these tracks or in these guideways are mounted carriages or trucks EE,conventionally illustrated in the drawings, there being one of said trucks at each end of the cylinder. Upon each of said trucks or carriages is supported a casing or tank like structure F, each of which is arranged to support amass of particles of abrading material and also air conducting and guiding devices.

G illustrates conventionally an air-compressor, from which extends a duct G, which is connected with suitable reservoirs G mounted upon the platform A. From each reservoir there leads a flexible hose or tube g, the outer end of which is secured in the tank-like structure F. In the upper portion of each tank F is formed a chamber H, having an inclined bottom and an aperture at its lower end in line with the inner end of the flexible tube g. Within said chamber H is deposited the abrading material above referred to. For the latter I prefer at present to employ minute globules of shot. The shot are dropped in a stream through the passageway or opening it in the bottom of the chamber H into a passage or opening at g in the aforesaid tube g or a duct connected therewith and are propelled by the air with great force therefrom.

I is a tube, of any suitable material, which is secured to the delivery end of the duct in which is formed the passage g, and said tube I extends through the central aperture in the adjacent head b of the cylinder B and terminates in a nozzle or delivery device at 2'. The duct I is of a length equal to or somewhat greater than that of the cylinder B.

Each of the casings F is provided with a set of devices such as above described, the duct and nozzle of the second set being indicated by I '5, respectively. The ducts I I extend through the central apertures in the heads I) b of the cylinder and are preferably arranged to have their nozzles overlap, as shown in the drawings. The trucks and the delivery-ducts are caused to travel to and fro on the longitudinal lines of the cylinder, so that the nozzles 2' t shall be carried from one end to the other of the interior of the cylinder.

The trucks can be caused to travel toward each other and then from each other, if desired; but I prefer to arrange them so that they will simultaneously move in the same direction and be at a distance from each other somewhat greater than twice the length of the cylinder B in order that I may secure together the two nozzle ends of the deliveryducts, as by a clamp at 1 and thus provide a central brace between said ducts. The movement of the truck and delivery-ducts can be accomplished by any suitable devices, as by a reversin g-clutch with a rack-feed or by continuously-revolving oppositely-threaded shafts or other devices well known for such purpose. In the drawings I have illustrated a very simple arrangement for effecting such movement. The two trucks are connected by a longitudinal tie-rod E to which is connected a depending arm 6. The latter is connected at its lower end to an endless belt or cable E passing around suitable supportingdrums 2 e Power can be applied to either of said drums to cause the belt or endless cable to travel in the desired direct-ion.

The in ech anism above described is operated as follows: The cylinder Bis provided in its peripheral wall with one or more doors B. These or a suitable number of them being opened, a number of tubes, such as drawn tubes or lap-welded or butt-welded tubes, are placed within the cylinder, the number of tubes being preferably such that the interior of the cylinder shall be about one half filled thereby. ing devices are set in motion and the cylinder revolved comparatively slowly. At the same time the airdeliveriug mechanism and the devices for moving the trucks E E are put into action. The abrading material, which is delivered with great force from the nozzles z' z", is caused to impinge upon the surfaces of the tubes within the cylinder and to rapidly clean them of scale, oxids, and other undesirable materials. As the cylinder revolves, the tubes are caused to roll upon each other and also given a general motion in the direction of the rotation of the cylinder. At the same time the trucks and delivery-ducts are slowly moved longitudinally of the cylinder, so that the abradin g material shall be delivered along lines extending over the length of the tubes. Consequently there are being furnished constantly new surfaces for the blast to act upon and newly-presented tubes Then the cylinder-rotat= to be cleaned. WVhen the nozzles z' z" reach either end of the cylinder, the reversing devices come into operation and the trucks are started to move in the opposite direction. In this way large quantities of tubes can be very rapidly and economically treated. The abrading action of the blast is supplemented by the rolling of the tubes upon each other, as the abrading material which filters down ward is caused to rub and cut the external surfaces and effect more or less of the cleaning thereof than that resulting from the direct action of the blast. The cylinder of cleaning-barrel B is, in the form illustrated, provided with a series of apertures I), through which the particles of abrading material can escape and fall into the hoppers J. From these hoppers such material is conducted through ductsj to boots L. From the latter the abrading material is elevated to suitable supply reservoirs or receptacles M, held in a suitable elevated position and communicating with the chambers H of the casings F through flexible tubes or ducts m.

In the embodiment of my inventionherein illustrated I have provided means for using a current of air as the medium for conveying the abradin g in atcrial from the boots L to the elevated receptacles M. As shown, the upper portions of the hoppers .T are connected with the lower ends of the boots L through ductsj, and from the boots L extend ducts or tubes Z, the upper ends of which extend into the aforesaid receptacles M. N designates a fan or blower the casing of which is connected through a relatively large duct N with the upper end of the receptacle M. Said fan is adapted to be driven from the aforesaid power-shaft 0 When the fan N is operating, a strong current of air will be caused to pass downwardly through the ductsj and upwardly through the ducts Z into the elevated receptacles M. To prevent such abrading material from being carried into-the duct N, I prefer to arrange within each of the receptacles M a horizontal diaphragm M. As shown, this consists of a plate having a downwardly-flaring rim m, said plate being sup ported by bolts from the top wall of the receptacle M and of such size as to extend almost entirely across the interior of said receptacle, leaving a relatively small annular passage for the escape of air. From the above description it will be seen that there will be a continuous action, the abrading material escaping from the cylinder B being elevated to the receptacles M,and then passing through ducts m to the chambers II and therefrom through the tubes I to the interior of the cleaning-barrel again. After the above operation has continued a sufficient length of time the cylinder Bis brought to rest, the air-blast devices rendered inactive, and the trucks 6 e allowed to remain stationary. The door or doors B are then opened and the cleaned tubes removed from the cylinder.

As pointed out above, myimproved abrading mechanism is particularly applicable for the cleaning of the exterior surfaces of. tubes from scale, &c. I am also aware that it is equally applicable for cleaning other articles, and in Figs. 7 and 8 I have shown a series of solid shafts or rods P arranged within the cleaning-barrel B, as well as a series of tubes 0. In the last said figures I have of rubber rings of sufficient diameter to hold 'the rod or tube upon which they are placed out of contact with each of the others of those in the barrel. This arrangement is advantageous, as it positively prevents the surface of one rod or tube from being marred by contact with another, although for some classes of Work the spacing-rings Q may be dispensed with and the articles to be cleaned arranged as shown in Fig. 3.

While I have herein shown and described the receptacle F as mounted upon trucks adapted to travel on track-rails, it will be understood that any form of support which will permit the necessary movementsof said parts may be employed; and, again, various means for imparting rotary motion to the tubes, bars, or rods to be cleaned and for moving the discharge nozzle longitudinally of the tubes, bars, or rods other than those herein set forth will readily suggest themselves to persons skilled in this artthat is, I am aware that there can be numerous changes in the construction and arrangement of parts herein disclosed without departing from or sacrificing the advantages of my invention, and therefore do not wish to be understood as in: tending to limit myself to the specific construction herein illustrated and described as one means for carrying out my present invention.

What I claim is 1. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of the rotating barrel or cylinder adapted to have the articles to be abraded supported therein, a delivery-nozzle within said cylinder, and means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air charged with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

2. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotary barrel or cylinder adapted to support a series of articles to be abraded, a non-rotary tube or duct extending longitudinally of theinterior of said barrel, a nozzle carried by said duct within the barrel, and means for supplying said duct with a blast of air charged with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

3. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotary barrel or cylinder adapted to receive and loosely support the articles to be abraded, a nozzle arranged to reciprocate Within the barrel, and means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air charged with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

4. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotary support or holder for the articles to be abraded, two oppositely-extending non-rotary nozzles, supported by said holder at one side of the articles to be abraded,

and means for supplying ablast of air charged withabrading material to said nozzles, substantially as set forth.

5. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a duct or tube, a nozzle carried by said duct, a holder for articles to be abraded adapted to rotate about the axis of the tube or duct, means for supplying a blast of air charged with abrading material to the nozzle, means for reciprocating the duct and nozzle, and means below said nozzle for receiving the abrading material, substantially as set forth.

6. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of the rotary barrel or cylinder adapted to receive a number of articles, a movable truck, the duct or tube extending from the truck to the interior of the cylinder and provided with a nozzle which travels with the truck longitudinally of the cylinder, and means for supplying abrading material to the duct and nozzle, substantially as set forth.

7. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a support for the' articles to be abraded adapted to impart rotation to said articles, a delivery-nozzle traveling longitudinally of the support, and means for supplying said nozzle with a blast charged with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

8. .In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a holder adapted to support articles to be abraded, a delivery-nozzle, means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air, a receptacle for abrading material, a duct for conveying the abrading material to the said nozzle, and means for moving both the holder and nozzle relatively to each other, substantially as set forth.

9. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a support or holder, for the articles to be abraded, a receptacle adapted to contain air under pressure, a tube or duct leading from said receptacle and provided with a nozzle, means for moving said nozzle relatively to the holder when in use, an elevated receptacle for abrading material, means for delivering abrading material from said reof the delivery-tube, a receptacle for abrading material, a flexible tube for conveying such material to said delivery-tube, means for-supplying a blast of air to said tube, a hopper arranged below the holder to receive the abrading material escaping from the nozzle, and a pneumatic conveyor for conveying said material received in said hopper to the aforesaid receptacle therefor, substantially as set forth.

11. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotary support or holder for the articles to be abraded, two oppositely-extending tubes or ducts each provided at one end with a nozzle, means for moving said tubes and nozzles longitudinally of the holder, means for supplying each of said tubes with a blast of air, elevated tanks or receptacles, M, for abradin g material, means for conducting material from said receptacles to the aforesaid tubes, hoppers arranged below the holder or support, boots, L, at the lower ends of the hoppers, ducts, Z, connecting the boots, L, and elevated receptacles, M, a fan, N, and ducts connecting the casing of said fan with the said elevated receptacles,l\/I, substantially as set forth.

12. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of the rotary holder, the reciprocating truck, a receptacle on the truck for holding air under pressure, the duct leading from said receptacle, a nozzle carried by the duct, and means for supplying said duct with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

13. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of the rotary holder, the trucks arranged on opposite sides of the holder and traveling together, delivery-tubes extending from the trucks beyond the ends,respectively, ot' the rotary holder, and means for supplying said tubes with a blast of air charged with abrading material, substantially as set forth.

14. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotary holder, the trucks arranged beyond the ends of the holder and traveling together in similar directions, delivery-tubes extending from the trucks beyond the adjacent ends, respectively, of the rotary holder, means connecting the adjacent ends of said ducts, and means for supplying a blast of air charged with abrading material to said ducts, substantially as set forth.

15. In a tube-cleaning machine, the combination with means for supporting and imparting rotation to one or more tubes, of a blastnozzle, means for moving the said nozzle longitudinally of the said tube or tubes while rotating, and means for supplying said nozzle with a stream of abrading material, substantially as set forth.

16. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotating barrel or cylinder adapted to receive a series of articles to be abraded, a delivery-nozzle within said cylinder, means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air charged with abrading material, and means for supporting each of the articles within the barrel out of contact with the others therein; substantially as set forth.

17. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotatable support, a delivery-noz: zle, means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air charged with abrading mate rial, and means for holding the article to be abraded out of contact with said support while moving therewith; substantially as set forth.

18. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a rotatable cylindricalsupport, a delivery-nozzle arranged within and adapted to travel longitudinally of said support, means for supplying said nozzle with a blast of air charged with abrading material, and means adapted to engage the article to be abraded and hold the same out of contact with the wall of said rotatable support; substantially as set forth.

19. In an abrading mechanism, the combination of a holder for the article to be cleaned, blast devices, a nozzle for guiding and directing the blast against the article to be acted on, means for supplying abrading material to the blast in rear of the nozzle, and means for moving the nozzle longitudinally of the article to be cleaned to direct the blast against all points in the length thereof which it is desired to clean, substantially as set forth.

20. Ina mechanism for removing scale from tubes, bars, or rods, the combination of a holder adapted to hold the article to be cleaned in a horizontal position, blast devices having a discharge-pipe extending parallel with the article to be cleaned, and havinga nozzle for directing the blast against said article, means for supplying abrading material to said discharge-pipe. and means for moving said pipe longitudinally whereby the nozzle will direct the blast of abrading material against every point in the length of the exposed surface of the tube, bar, or rod which it is desired to clean, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM A. MoOOOL. lVitnesses:

H. W. Rnnvns, IIUNTER ECKERT. 

